Electric signaling apparatus and circuit.



. To d/ll whom/it cone-emo nc urrn Specification 6f Let erma j Patented mea 19cc.

Applioaticnfiled tr il-W n,1900. Serial N--B,6l.3. it

Belt known that I, FELIxBENEDIOrHEIt zoe, Ph. 1),,a'fcitiz'en of the; United States,

and'a re'sidentof the city, county, and State of:New York, have inventeda' new and useful Improvementin Electric Signaling Apparatus and Circuits, of whichthe following isa specification. v l

The presentinvention covers several improvements on my Patent No. 596,774, of

" January 4, 1898.

' trodes" suitably connected with the circuit- The main improvementsv are directed to making a simpler, cheaper, andmore compact annunciator or TGCOIdIDg instrument adapted for use in place of ordinary magnetic or other indicators on ordinary circuits. 'In the form embodied herein it comprises a base fitted with electrodes and adapted to'be su ported in atransparent jar of electrolyticfluid, all so arranged. that when a circuit is closed at a distant point one of these elecclosing instrument at 'such distant point will be'changed in appearance so as to be visible through the .jar and so serve as an annunciator. This change in. appearance may be caused bya deposit, as of iodin from a s'alt (potas'sium' iodid) decomposed by the passage of the'curre nhor it maybe caused by an aggregation.- of .-bubbles of gasas well as by other means. f

' My lnvention also comprises. a speclal solu tion for use with such an instrumcnt.- I In the drawings, Figure 1 isa front, anr

Fig. 2 isa side, viewof anembodimentof this invention, Fig. 3 showing a detail-- 5. e., the

junction-board; The annunciator is constructed as follows:

Thebase 32 is a hollow column of opal glass having noback and having a flange-head 35, adapted to support the base from the rim of the jar 40, within which it is insefted when the apparatus is operating, A groove on the "flange-top admits a soft-rubber ring gasket or packing 34 36, serving to make'a better and water-tight fit between the'rim of the jar and the fiangejofthe base. The flange has an' opening 37, through which the wires and blow-tube emerge. The front of the base is pierced for each outlet, anda' soft-rubb'er: plug 46 is fitted in'to each hole. Through, each such plug passes a fineplatinum wire 48,,

and on the outer-end .thereof a knot or turn 47'servestohold in place a' cushion 45 of inert material-as glass, rubber, celluloid, &c.-i-"

electricalconnection. The inner end 0 the wire is soldered or otherwise fastened to-a wire 49 of cheaper -material, as copper, and'- this may be anchored by a turn around the blower-tube 26 and then carried upward through the hole 37 in the flange-head, thence through the elbow 17 and its extension 1-8, the several similar wires being "advantageously twisted into a cable 55. This cable terminates in a'suitable junction-board' 53, preferably bearing a suitable connectingplate and its screws for each line, As shown, each such plate is made angular with one screw 51 at one face 52 for connection to the line 54, leading to the distant button, and an a other screw 50 at the other face connecting to the wire leading to the corresponding tip in the tank, as. already described. After the wires have been properly connected Within the base this is filled with a filling of cement, as wax and rosin, so as to keep the fluid from the connections. This cement. thus forms the fourth side ,orback of the tank. This cement is also ermitted to flow. into the elbow, this serving" othto insulate and protect the wires more thoroughly and to bind together these wires, the base, and the elbow. The various disks placed on the front of the base ordinarily are used for connection with the line-wires, while theconnection for the negative wire or common return may often be more advantageously'made at the back, as here shown, the corresponding parts being numbered 58 59 60 61, while the negative wire is 62, and its externalconne'ction may lead to a suitable bell, (not shown,) but which would be looped in between wires 63 and 64.

In order to locate the index numbers or letters in proper proximity to the corresponding disks and at the same time provide a convenient form of changing them when desired, suitable names, here shown asletters,

are etchedor otherwiseplaced on astrip of glass 30, fitted into'a suitable recess31 in the in the top 'ofthe projecting angleoftheblow tube 26, the upper'end being held inplaceby a rubberband71. #Suitable flanges3839 formed on the base, prevent this band from slipping .do Wn,- In order to enable air-t0 be 11 and overthis a dISk 4 4 of platinum,jthe latter I being adjusted so'that sufficient pressureor other contact extends between it and the knot onthe platinum wire to insure a 00d 1 blown into the tank to hasten the disappearance of the stain by agitating the liquid, a blow-tube 26 is provided, terminating below in the angular projection 28 with opening 27 and ending above in the air-bulb 25, fitted with a valve, or, preferably, as shown, with a number of small vent-holes 25, so placed that the fingers of the operator cannot close all simultaneously, (whereby a suction would result.) To prevent danger of breaking the main tube, this is preferably not carried to the top; but an air-space 66 is provided, formed by the top of the cement filling (in the elbow) and the bottom of the stopper 23,

r 5 which is fitted with projecting neck 24, upon which the bulb is fixed. For use under ordinary conditions the rubber gasket 34 is not air-tight, thus permitting air to be expelled when the bulb is pressed.

In order to hold together the jar and the.

base, a suitable locking-piece is provided, as

the screw-cap 42, adjusted to screw onto the neck 41 of the jar, with .the top 43 fitting against the elbow 17. The upper side of the 2 R cap is arranged to press upon the flange-head when the cap is screwed down; but the cap is not fitted permanently to either the elbow or the flange-head.

The elbow is adapted, in addition to the 50 functions described, to support the annunciator as follows: An extension 16 carries a pin 15, adapted to fit in a slot in an extension 21 of arm 4, projecting out horizontally from the top of a bracket-piece 1. A flange 3, de-

veloping into walls 7 and 6, forms a box to protect the cables 55 and 56 and junctionboard 53, while a front plate 67, turned into a flange 68, protects these parts from any chance spraying'of the solution in the jar, a

4 hole 69 admitting the cable 55. A bottom extension 2 is fitted with screw-holes 10, by

which the bracket may be screwed to a table or shelf, while holes 11 in the back are for use when the device is to be screwed to the wall.

The extension 2 swells. out into the side pieces 5- to prevent lateral motion of the jar.

The extension 18 of the elbow also forms the channel 1 9 for supporting the cable 55 and carries a lug 20 to hold the plate 67 in place and has formed on it the piece 22 to guide the cable when the bottom of the jar is swung forward for the purpose of enablin the jar to be detached for the purpose of connecting up the junction-box, removing the cap for 55 manipulation of the liquid, or repairs to the base or disks, &c. The parts are all so proportioned that after the jar is swung forward the cap may be screwed loose and lifted with the base, the angle of necessary motion being 6 such that the fluid cannot spill. A screw 8, fitting in hole 9, keeps the jar from forward motion. Holes 13 14 permit the external-wires to be led to the junction-board from above or below, accordingto the direcf .5 tion of their run, while lugs 12 are adapted to hold the bracket from the wall far enough to permit the external wires to be hidden behind the bracket. The platinum disks may advantageously be located so that they alternate, as shown, whereby a narrow number- 70 strip may be made to hold large-sized numbers in sequence in one line.

A further improvement consists in covering the electrode disks or tips with a closefitting sheet of textile material of a dark color and in substituting cheaper, material than platinum for the tips and in making the solution so that a very heavy deposit of gas-bubbles of minute size will form the indication. I have discovered that the degree of brilliancy or visibility as well as the permanence of the mass of bubbles after cessation of the current depends largely upon the relative small size of the individual bubbles, and this varies with the character of the 8;; ingredients. I therefore add to a decomposable liquid, as water, substances which will decrease the size of the bubbles, increase the number thereof, or in any other way increase the visibilit of the indication. Va- 0 rious substances w iich increase the viscosity or conductivity will also act to so increase the visibility, and I have found that of such substances many gums act advantageously, and I have found that gum-arabic gives an 9 5 excellentl" brilliant grouping. By arranging over the disks as a group a piece of black silk of medium closeness of weave, as shown by 70, I obtain a black background for the bubbles which will impart form or be visible :00 from the front, although the electrodes are directly behind it. This arrangement works at its best when the negative electrode is at some an ular distance from the positive. I

prefer silk only for solutions by which it is 05 not affected. I have also modified this arrangement by covering buttons individually as in 70". One of the points in this general form of annunciator is that the base may be manufactured independently of the jar as a separate piece of merchandise. The base may of course be made to rest on the bottom of the jar or upon a projection therein or it may be suspended from the wires directly from the elbow-piece.

I have found that ordinary porcelainwill in time be affected b Y the action of the lluid, whereas opal glass Wlll not be so affected and is white enough to contrast well with the iodin stain. For the negative disk' I may substitute a wire leading out from below as, for instance, from the hole through which the blow-tube projects and then upward between the rows of disks, as in 6, whereby the bubbles of gas formed during action will I 5 not sweep away the iodin dcpositedon the positive poles, and the current required will e comparatively small, because the pole is at. about the same distance from all of the negative disks. 1 3o A further improvement in the buttons of the sheet-platinum type consists in forming the support. of inert material, as rubber, of

sheets'tock convexed by pressure, thus making a button whichshall appear solid, whereas fitis really made ofL-foil so thin that it could not stand the strain of the pull which the wire must exercise upon it in order to insure good contact therewith. g The jar form described is for small annunciators an improvement over the clamped cell form of my patents because no leakage can take place as the result of carelessness H1 screwmg up nor is there any danger of.

breakage as the resultof uneven pressure in clamping on a glass in the cell form.

What I claim is 1. An annunciator comprising a base which carries electrodes, their connectingwires and means for protecting the latter from the solution, and 'a vessel containing solution and arranged andadapted to have the base immersed the wires.

. 2. An annunciator-base comprising a hollow column, electrodes and wires mounted thereon together with means for keeping the column immersed in solution contained in a therein below the level of transparent jar and means for protecting the wires from the electrolyte;

' 3. An annunciator comprising a base ar' ranged and adapted to hold electrodes on its front; side walls to the base, means for leading the connecting -wires vertically, and means for protecting all the circuits beyond. the electrodesfrom the fluid.

4. In combination, the jar, the base, with its electrodes, a locking device as a cap for joining these, and a passage through the cap the outgoing lines, each electrode comprising a button of conducting material covered by a dark fabric, the said base also bearing ledges projecting between adjacent electrodes, all

- combined with an electrolyte adapted to deposit visible bubbles of gas upon an operated electrode.

8. In a chemical annunciator, the operated disks arranged with projections fro .the base, above their plane and constructe and adapted to 006 crate therewith, the projections correspon ing to several disks being integrally formed.

' 9. Ina chemicalannunciator, the operated d sks" arranged ina vertical line with projections from-the basebetween-thern; the parts being 'sosconstructed and arranged that the projections remain. in place independently of their respective disks andthe'projections extend beyond the plane of the .disks- I 10. A support. for a chemical'annunciator combined -with..the; annunciator proper,

means for attaching them togeth;-';r, guiding and lockingdevices constructedand acting to insure such attachment in afixed relation,

and leadingein" wires arranged and adapted by length and flexibility thereofto permit of detachment. of the annunciatorwithout re- :movalof the support. 1

11. .A chemical annunciator comprising a jar, together withoperativeparts immersed therein and movable in re1ation.thereto and combinedwith a blow-tube connected to the latter.

12. A chemical annun'oiator comprising a vertically-arranged row of disks and a vertical blow-tube, together-with a base arranged to sup ort'both of these elements. 13. n a chemical annunciator, a vertical row of disks, a base supporting them, a blow tube supported by the base and located behind the disks, and an orifice for the same belowthe disks. y

14. In a chemical annunciator a 'su port for a positive and a negative termina the positive terminal arranged upon one face of the support, together with the negative upon the other face. I a

15. In a chemical annunciator, a disk of inert material formed into proper shape, to-

gether with a thin'coveringplate of conducting material, conforming thereto, and a connection passing from the plate through to the back of the inert material and'acting to attach the disk and plate to asupportingbase. v

1.6. In a chemical annunciator, a containini-jar and an insertible element comprising ase, suitable terminals and connections, together with a fastening device adapted to coordinate these parts. 17. A chemical annunciator comprising disks, a base arranged and adapted to serve as. an abutment for the disks, orifices for the disk-wires, and projections extendin from the base farther than the disks integrally with the base." 18. A chemical annunciator comprising a tank having a transparent face, together with and orrned a base arranged to carry the operative disks and means for inserting the base from the topof the tank, and adjustments for support ing it within the tank from thetop. I

19.. An indicating device comprising an electrode, a covering for the same made of non-conducting material having'interstices,

an electrolytic solution within which the electrode and covering are immersed incombination with an electrode of opposite pole also in the solution and all cooperating so that gas-bubbles formed at the passage of the current will be located over the covering.

20. An indicating device comprising an electrode for the same of color contrasting with that of the bubbles specified hereinafter rial and constructed to admit of electrolytic action between the electrode and the solu-,

parent jar, an insertible base bearing disks of conducting substance with a covering of nonconducting material pervious to the current, conducting-wires from the disks and through the base, means for insulating them from the base, together with a solution composed of a conducting electrolyte, to which has been added a substance for the purpose of affecting the visibility of bubbles of gas produced by the electrolytic action. I Dated New York, January 23, 1900.

F. BENEDICT HERZOG. Witnesses:

C. H. NEWCOMB, PA L A. CUENIN. 

